Self-styled (literally) movie star Melissa Leo has, over the course of three decades of work, carved out an almost impossible career path for an actress: peaking in her fifties, simultaneously courting and trolling Hollywood, and not giving a shit how any of that makes her look.

UPDATED: With the major film festivals in Toronto, Venice, and Telluride behind us, the season for awards-caliber movies is officially underway — and it’s shaping up to be one of the most exciting ones in recent memory. From contemporary family dramas to period biopics to sci-fi romances, here are the most likely contenders for the 2013 season.